Roseburg baseball takes series with North Medford, hangs on to SWC lead
MEDFORD — He’s been a weekend starter in the past, but it hasn’t been typical to see senior Jake Johnson take the mound for a Saturday start this season.
Roseburg’s pitching ace has been the anchor on Tuesdays, but was eligible to throw on Saturday against North Medford in Game 1 of a Southwest Conference doubleheader at Jim McAbee Field.
“I was hoping to stay under pitch count on Tuesday (against South Medford) so I could throw in this doubleheader,” Johnson said after he threw a complete-game 1-0 shutout victory against the Black Tornado.
“I was happy to get two wins this week. We just got to keep the momentum going and keep winning league games,” Johnson added.
Johnson had a career-high 12 strikeouts and outdueled North Medford ace Dominic Daffron for a second time this season. Johnson also earned a win over Daffron and North Medford in a 3-1 victory on April 8.
The Indians took the season series against North and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker in a tight race for the SWC title.
North Medford got a 10-3 victory in Game 2 for it’s only win against Roseburg this season.
Johnson was grooving early against North Medford (13-6, 8-4 SWC). The right-hander had five punchouts through three innings. He struck out Austin Warren to end the second inning with a man at third and struck out the side in the fourth after giving up a leadoff double to Brady Patterson.
“I went in there a little pissed off today and wanted to get that win,” Johnson said. “They’re definitely a rivalry school. It’s a little more competitive when we play a Medford school.”
Roseburg (13-6, 9-4) scored its only run of the game in the third inning. Daffron got the first two outs, but then gave up three consecutive singles to Paxton Burke, Dane St. Clair and Cal Robbins. Burke scored on the base hit by Robbins.
Daffron pitched the complete game, and allowed five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
The Black Tornado found the offense in the nightcap, collecting 10 hits off of Roseburg’s Danner Wertz and Rylee Cheney.
Wertz gave up three runs on five hits over three innings with one walk and two strikeouts. He took his first loss of the season. Cheney was touched up for six runs (four earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
North Medford grabbed the lead for good in the third inning and scored at least one run in every inning except the first. Colton Miller and Cade Petterson were both 3-for-4. Jake Payton was 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
“That’s a really solid squad from 1-9 in the lineup. They can definitely hit the ball when they want to, just like we can,” Johnson said. “So getting the series win is big for sure, because I think they’re definitely the most competitive team we have in the league.”
Roseburg’s offense was led by Burke and Fletcher Coleman, who both had a hit in each game of the twin bill.
The Indians have a half-game lead over North Medford for first place in the Southwest Conference with five league games left to go for RHS.
The conference standings are very tight from first to sixth place. Roseburg has a two-game lead on Willamette, Sheldon and Grants Pass. South Medford is just 2 1/2 games behind the Indians.
Roseburg will visit West Salem for a nonleague game at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
First Game
Roseburg 001 000 0 — 1 5 1
N. Medford 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
J. Johnson and Bowers; Daffron and Patterson. W — J. Johnson (6-1). L — Daffron (4-3). 2B — Coleman (R), Patterson (NM).
Second Game
Roseburg 010 020 0 — 3 6 2
N. Medford 011 133 1 — 10 10 0
Wertz, Cheney (4) and Bowers; Baker and Patterson. W — Baker (5-1). L — Wertz (5-1). 2B — Payton (NM).
